PHFX’s new REDCamAssist is a powerful free online tool for all users of RED Digital Cinema cameras and R3D REDCODE RAW workflow. For anyone unfamiliar with RED cameras, the myriad possible combinations of resolution, associated crops, aspect ratios and R3D REDCODE data rates can be overwhelming to say the least.
Phil Holland of PHFX has created a simple online tool called REDCamAssist that generates a comprehensive data sheet for any and all possible combinations of settings on all RED camera bodies.
REDCamAssist is accessible from the PHFX website. With six simple input criteria, REDCamAssist generates a full blown datasheet that will prove more than useful to DIT’s and post production teams when planning post workflow especially.
All you need to know to generate a full datasheet are:
RED Camera Model
Resolution
Format
Anamorphic Modeely
Frame Rate
Enable HDRx (Yes/No)
The datasheet includes:
REDCODE RAW Resolution and Format Details
Film Format Relative Crop Factors
Selected Camera Body Specifications
Supported Recording Codecs
REDCODE RAW Data Rates
It’s very easy to use and makes it look like you’ve done all the hard work while in actual fact PHFX’s Phil Holland has done your homework for you.
I can also see the tool being useful for anyone wanting to see what functionality they will get from various RED camera bodies before making a purchase decision. Phil has hinted that more amazing functionality is in the pipeline so REDCamAssist is definitely a page worth bookmarking.

RED Digital Cinema announced a new camera body, the RED Weapon. They presented all the new features and displayed the camera at NAB 2015. Unfortunately RED did not give interviews or talk about the camera on video.
In a vulgar booth with artificial human body parts and corpses RED showed off their new camera design the RED Weapon. It seems the camera will work for non-horror productions too though.
Essentially the new camera is a rehousing of the 6K Epic Dragon Sensor that they released last year and it will run for $34,500 for the lower end version and $49,500 for the premium version with full 120fps (body only). Apparently users will be able to upgrade the sensor output to full-frame 8K for another $20,000.
The new design is said to be more ergonomic and more lightweight with the additional benefit of a better positioning of the in- and outputs at the back and new XLR-inputs.
The new RED Weapon camera will support ProRes alongside the RED RAW codec. It records both formats at the same time. Up to 60fps for the standard version, 120fps on the carbon fibre body.
It seems like some of the previous accessories, including the standard storage media REDmags will not be compatible with the new design, but many accessories are still supported.
There has been discussion about the name RED Weapon that might lead to security problems at airports especially. RED will offer an unbranded version of the camera for those concerned.
The camera is said to ship at the end of 2015.
For more information visit the RED website.